Metastatic Brain Tumors

A metastatic, or secondary, brain tumor is formed by cancer cells from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body that have spread to the brain.  

Location

The locations of metastatic brain tumors varies.

Description

Cancers that frequently spread to the brain include lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma (a malignant form of skin cancer), colon cancer, and kidney cancer.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor.

Incidence

People are surviving cancer longer than ever before. As a result, it is likely that the incidence of metastatic brain tumors will rise in the years to come.

Cause

Metastatic brain tumors are caused by cancer that has spread from another part of the body.

Treatment

Treatment consists of radiation and/or chemotherapy. Learn more about different treatment option for brain tumors on our Treatment page.

Tumores Cerebrales Metastásicos

Una publicación de ABTA en español.

Metastatic Brain Tumors

An ABTA Publication